Window-cleaner.



(Ho Model.)

Patented Nov. 27, I900. E. M. FARMER.

WINDOW CLEANER.

(Application filed. July 17, 1900.)

ERNEST M. FARMER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO;

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 662,713, dated November 2'7, 1960.

Application filed July 17, 1900. $eria1N0.23,955. (N0 model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNEST M. FARMEB, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Window Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention relates to new and useful improvements in window-cleaners, particularly that class known as fountain-cleaners, in which water or other cleansing liquid is stored in the cleaner and fed 'to the washer. The washers are usually made of sponges or like material and are backed up by the liquid to keep them moist; but in my invention the sponges are dispensed with and the washer will keep moist regardless of the liquid backing as long as there is any liquid in the cleaner.

Myinven tion consists of certain details and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter pointed out, and embodied in the appended claims.

Having now disclosed the nature of my in vention, reference is made to the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to corresponding parts.

Figure l is a front elevation of my cleaner, showing a part broken away. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line a; a: in Fig. 1.

In the several views, A is a cylindrical liq-* uid receptacle or tank having a handle B attached to its under side. This handle may be made all in one piece; but I prefer to have the same jointed by means of a ferrule g, in which maybe inserted a stick K. Astick of any length may be used, as the height of the window may require. On the uppersurface of the cylinder or tank A and a little to one side is a slot .9, which extends longitudinally of the cylinder, but terminates a short distance from each end of the same. Through this slot extends the wicking c, which extends down into the bottom of the tank and may be coiled therein, according to its length. The wicking is supported in the slot 5 by the core d, which rests edgewise upon the surface of the cylinder beyond the ends of the slot .9. Thewicking c is approximately the same width as the length of the slot 8 and is folded in the middle around the core d. The two ends of the wicking pass through the slot and are coiled around in the cylinder. The walls a ct are formed integral with the surface of the cylinder on each side of the slot and converge toward each other. By their frictional contact with the wicking the walls hold the same in position, yet not so firmly as to prevent the \vicking from being replaced or pulled out, if desired. On the opposite side of the cylinder, at an equal distance from the top element as the walls a a, are the walls I) b, formed integral with the surface of the cylinder in a like manner as the walls a, a. The rubber drier or polisher is supported between the walls 17 b by frictional contact with the same and consists of a strap 6, having an enlarged lip c. This strapis wound around the corefand presents the two lips above the walls I) b; The core serves to separate the lips and to assist by a Wedging action and friction the walls I) b in fastening the strap. The orifice and nipple in the end of the cylinder are closed by the screw-cap h.

In the operation of thy-device the screw-cap is removed and the receptacle or tank filled or partially filled with Water or other cleansing liquid. The cap is then replaced and the cleaner raised to the window. The window may then be washed by presenting the wicking to the glass and dried and polished by removing the cleaner to present the rubber lips to the glass. It is an important feature of my invention in locating the wicking and rubber lips on opposite sides near the top of the cylinder or tank, for in this location both the Wicking and rubber lips are presented normally to both the glass and cylinder, and thus the cylinder does not have to be revolved or turned on its axis to act at the greatest advantage. Further, the slot as a rule will be above the surface of the liquid instead of being backed up by the same, and thus all danger of leakage or of the liquid dripping through the slot is removed. This is accomplished by the use of wicking instead of cotton and sponges, as suggested by the prior art, for the wicking, on account of the capillary action of the water, will always keep moist when any part thereof is immersed in the liquid, and, further, the Wicking being wound over the edge of the core presents a cushion-like and uninterrupted surface backed by the hard core, which gives rigidity to the same.

Of course it is understood that the expression wicking and the showing of the same does not limit my invention to a single piece, but I may use a plurality of pieces, if desired, according to the degree required. The enlarged lips 011 the rubber strap give a pliable, broad, and durable polishing-surface. These straps may also be multiplied by winding several instead of one around the core, according to the degree required. It is found to be more advantageous to have the lips arranged parallel to each other on each side of the core, as shown, than to have a solid rubber cushion, such as disclosed in the prior art, for by this construction the periphery of an approximately oval polishing -surface is presented having a hollowed-out center. This renders the same more adhesive than a single lip and less adhesive than the solid cushions. The hollowed-out portions or that between the lips may also act to collect particles or obstacles, if any, and to give a means of escape to surplus water from the glass.

Although I have described my cleaner in minute detail, my invention is not confined to the exact construction disclosed in the description and drawings, and l reserve the right to substitute any of the well-known equivalents, at the same time keeping within the scope of the claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a window-cleaner, a receptacle having a handle, a longitudinal slot in its side terminatin g near each end of the receptacle, a core supported on the surface of said receptacle beyond the ends of the slot and a wicking extending around said core and having its ends projecting through the slot into the receptacle, substantially'as described.

2. In a Window-cleaner, a cylindrical receptacle having a handle attached to its under side, a longitudinal slot in one side near the top thereof, a core supported on the surface of said receptacle beyond the ends of the slot, a wicking supported in and extending through said slot into the receptacle, and extending around said core, walls extending longitudinally of the cylinder on the opposite side near the top thereof, a core supported between said walls, a rubber drier extending around the sides of said core, said rubber drier having enlarged lips projecting outwardly beyond the walls and core forming a continuous wall, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name in the presence of the following witnesses.

ERNEST M. FARMER.

Witnesses:

OHAs. R. POST, NELLIE SABIN HYDE. 

